Author: Kailynn Johnson

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Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Considers Permit for Colossus Plant

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The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s (TDEC) Division of Water Resources held a public hearing for a Water Quality State Operating Permit for the Colossus Water Recycling Plant.

The hearings, which were preceded by information sessions, were held on June 25th and 26th virtually and in-person. Participants were able to ask questions and make public comments in regards to the permit.

TDEC said they would respond to each comment, before issuing a decision on the permit.

“This specific Water Quality State Operating Permit is for operation of a reclaimed wastewater treatment plan and non-potable reuse water distribution system for restricted urban reuse,” a fact sheet on the project said.

TDEC officials said this will minimize use of potable water from the Memphis Sand Aquifer for “industrial purposes.” 

Colossus plans on pumping 13.5 million gallons of treated wastewater daily from the T.E. Maxson Wastewater Treatment Plant. xAI, Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) Allen Combined Cycle Plant, and Nucor Steel will all use cooling water from this non-potable reuse water distribution system.

According to TDEC, project discussions began in September of 2024, and TDEC received the permit application in February. Officials issued a draft permit in April.

Several citizens cited their concerns and questions during the question period, where TDEC officials provided answers. Participants questioned the department on transparency, community impact, aquifer usage, and more.

Pamela Moses, president of the Hollywood Neighborhood Association and Rise Up America, questioned why members of the community were not informed about the xAI project. She also voiced concern over the limited supply of groundwater and wastewater.

“Everybody knows — well, they should know — that Memphis has the most precious water in this country,” Moses said. “It is a limited supply, so why is it that the community wasn’t involved in this?”

Ronné Adkins, deputy commissioner for the Bureau of Environment, said when they receive applications, updates are posted on the agency’s database. Adkins said though there was not a public announcement of the application, the documents were accessible to the public.

Moses went on to state that she wishes for the permit to be denied saying that the company “could not be trusted.”

“[xAI] is not coming here to uplift or invest in our community,” Moses said. “They are here to exploit it. This is a distress and is a historically neglected area. Instead of bringing opportunities, Colossus is bringing pollution, secrecy, and broken promises.”

Sarah Houston, executive director of Protect Our Aquifer, asked if a smell would be associated with the plant, and if so, how it could be addressed.

“Generally speaking, biologically treated wastewater that’s treated at a biological plant might smell a little bit musty,” Wade Murphy, a TDEC official, said. “Odor is very subjective. There shouldn’t be any smell that you don’t smell already.”

Wade said if there is a smell, it’s not something that they regulate, but the owner can “chemically mask” the scent at “their discretion.”

Bobby White, chief government affairs officer for the Greater Memphis Chamber, voiced the chamber’s support of the project during the public comment period.

“The unfortunate long-standing standard [of] how good drinking water from the aquifer is something that has been used for industrial purposes because a project like this has been thought about but never strategically entered into or thought about how it would get paid for,” White said. “I wanted to voice the interest of citizens who are concerned about drinking water and how this project is a game changer in terms of saving about 4.7 billion gallons of water.”

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City Releases Air Quality Testing Results Amid Community Concerns

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City officials announced Wednesday that independent testing found no dangerous pollutants in Boxtown, Whitehaven, or Downtown. They said the tests were conducted because of community concerns regarding environmental conditions.

“The City doesn’t control air quality regulations, but we stepped up to find answers,” Mayor Paul Young said. “The initial results showed no dangerous levels of air pollutants at any of the tested sites.”

Testing was conducted by third-party vendor and lab EnSafe Inc./SGS Galson on June 13th and 16th. Testers were tasked with targeting pollutants benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter.

The laboratory’s results, which the city called “definitive and reassuring,” found levels to be either “too low to detect” or “well below established safety thresholds.”

Memphis’ air quality and its effects on its citizens have long been a topic of controversy. Those issues have been further emphasized due to the xAI supercomputer facility located in South Memphis, an area many advocates say is disproportionately impacted by environmental racism.

Groups such as the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC)  have condemned xAI’s use of gas turbines. In a letter sent to xAI last week, the SELC notified the company of their intent to sue over the turbines on behalf of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

The letter noted the environmental impact of the data center, saying the turbines emit formaldehyde and other chemicals linked to respiratory diseases.

xAI issued a response to the city’s air quality testing results results: “xAI welcomes the independent third-party data showing no dangerous pollutant levels at test sites near our Memphis data center. We have built a world-class data center in Memphis and we couldn’t have done it without the support of the local community and its leaders.”

While xAI said the data is reassuring, the SELC called the analysis “flawed.”

“The city failed to measure ozone pollution — better known as smog — which we already know is a major problem in the Memphis area,” Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) senior attorney Patrick Anderson said. “It’s unclear why the city would not test for this harmful pollutant. To say that Memphians face ‘no dangerous pollutant levels’ ignores existing data and is irresponsible.”

Anderson’s comments come weeks after the SELC urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to intervene regarding the city’s air quality standards. Memphis was recently named an “Asthma capital of the world.”

The American Lung Association also gave Shelby County an “F” for ozone pollution.

SELC attorneys said the petition was filed after noticing a lack of urgency from local governing authorities. The filing also mentioned that the operation of xAI’s gas turbines further complicates the issue.

The center stated that the city’s ozone concentration violates federal standards and that the problem is getting worse. It said that community members have voiced their concerns about xAI and how its turbines could be linked to “smog-forming pollution.”

Other environmental advocates such as Representative Justin J. Pearson criticized the city’s omission of ozone testing, which he called a “considerable factor in air pollution problems in Memphis.” 

“We have an air pollution problem that is indisputable,” Pearson said. “We do not have time for political stunts and propaganda.” Pearson went on to say that the city’s findings are an extension of Young’s “unwavering support of xAI.”

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MATA Requests Additional Funding From City for FY26 Budget

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The Memphis Area Transit Authority said the city’s current funding of $30 million dollars will not allow the agency to provide reliable and sustainable service for its customers.

Today, MATA Board Chair Emily Greer and Interim CEO and TransPro consultant Jon Lewis presented their FY26 operating budget to the Memphis City Council’s Transportation Committee. Officials asked that the city’s funding be increased to $45 million.

Greer said the current funding allotment would hinder the agency from offering baseline services, additional frequency on main fixed routes, extra MATAplus services, and more. Increased funding would allow the agency to have more buses and operators. 

The agency said this would also allow them to return to steel-wheeled trolleys.

“We believe at $30 million, one year from now the transit system will not be better off than it is today,” Greer said. “It will require even more dollars to turn it into the transit system that our citizens need and deserve. Thirty million is at best a band-aid on a system that needs emergency surgery.”

Greer said since taking their oath in October the board has spent 71 hours in board and committee meetings while also speaking with city officials on a bi-weekly basis. Greer said they also met with local and non-local transit advocacy groups in hopes of improving transportation in Memphis.

She said improvements have been made in terms of transparency — resulting in “timely and accurate financial statements for the first time in years.” They’ve also met with employees to hear their input on agency operations.

The chair said their primary goal is to advocate for the agency, and part of that is making the authority’s needs known. She said their presentation is not about how money is “doled” out to them, but about procuring positive change.

Officials emphasized how current funding would not only put them at a disadvantage for the service they provide, but would plummet them further in debt. She said this could also deter candidates from applying for the permanent CEO position.

Lewis said the current budget was made on a number of assumptions, such as minimal increases to the maintenance team, the same service hours and main route schedules, and more. MATA expects to have a total revenue of $56,186, 644  with the city being the agency’s primary funding source.

MATA’s largest expenses are for services such as management, legal, and security.

Councilman Jeff Warren said this was the most thorough presentation from the agency that the council has had. He said it’s important for both parties to see the data.

Warren went on to say that getting travel back up in the Downtown area will increase convention traffic, which the restoration of trolley services would do.

“I heard your plea and I agree with what you’re saying,” Warren said. “Right now we’re looking at a budget where we don’t have the additional $15 million we would want you to have.” 

Warren said the city’s budget is “based on the actual money that is coming in” and that they’ll revisit MATA’s budget in September.

Councilwoman Janika White requested “clear deliverables” from TransPro regarding transformation at the agency. She said this would give the opportunity for the council to see how they can fund intended changes from a set plan.

The agency and council agreed to schedule a meeting where TransPro will present a change-fueled plan for MATA for the city to consider funding.

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SCOTUS Upholds Tennessee’s Ban on Gender Affirming Care for Minors

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The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has decided to uphold Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth.

Today, the court released its ruling in the case of United States v. Skrmetti, which sought to fight against the state’s efforts to restrict access to care for transgender minors. This marks the first time SCOTUS heard a case regarding healthcare for the trans community. The ruling was a 6-3 decision, in which the court’s three liberal justices voted in the minority.

In September 2023, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals allowed for the law restricting transgender youth from accessing gender-affirming medical care to remain in effect. 

The ruling came months after the court initially blocked the law from taking effect in July of the same year. 

Governor Bill Lee signed the state law in March of 2023. It prohibits healthcare professionals from administering gender-affirming care to minors. This legislation makes gender-affirming hormone therapy and puberty blockers inaccessible for trans people in Tennessee until they reach the age of 18. 

“This case carries with it the weight of fierce scientific and policy debates about the safety, efficacy, and propriety of medical treatments in an evolving field,” SCOTUS said.

State officials said they enacted their policy out of response to a “surge in the provision of puberty blockers, hormones, and surgeries to minors with gender-identity issues.” They said these treatments often have “life-altering effects.”

SCOTUS went on to say they are not required to judge on “wisdom, fairness, and logic,” but to make sure a law does not violate equal protection guarantees — which they said Tennessee’s does not.

The court noted “concededly weak evidence” and cited concerns of irreversible effects on children. In his opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas said the court has left it up to the states to decide “how best to address an area of medical uncertainty and extraordinary importance.”

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti called the court’s decision a “landmark victory for the state.”

“The common sense of Tennessee voters prevailed over judicial activism,” Skrmetti said. “A bipartisan supermajority of Tennessee’s elected representatives carefully considered the evidence and voted to protect kids from irreversible decisions they cannot fully understand.”

While the state argued that these are preventative measures, LGBTQ advocates argue that gender-affirming care is life-saving care. The Tennessee Equality Project (TEP) referenced information from groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics about the link between gender affirmation and mental well-being.

The advocacy group said they are concerned about what this ruling will say to other states.

“Instead of protecting young transgender people across the nation, states will now feel emboldened to codify discrimination more broadly in healthcare,” TEP said. “This ruling is yet another example of why governments, politicians, courts, and extremists have no place in the exam room, endangering every transgender person.”

Senator Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis) condemned SCOTUS’ decision calling it a “harmful setback” for trans youth, parents, and doctors. She said Tennessee was concerned with politics and not the well-being of children and families.

“Let’s be clear: This ruling does not make the law moral and it does not make it right,” Akbari said. “History will remember who stood with kids and families.”

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Southern Environmental Law Center Threatens Lawsuit Against xAI Data Center

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Environmental justice advocates are demanding xAI officials be held accountable for the operation of gas turbines at the Memphis data center.

Today, the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) sent a letter to xAI notifying the company of their intent to sue over the data center’s permitless gas turbines. The letter was sent on behalf of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Both organizations have been vocal about their concern for the facility, as well as the harm it poses to the community — specifically those in South Memphis. 

The NAACP sent a letter to the Shelby County Health Department and Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) requesting they cease operations on the facility.

SELC has long monitored the project, sending a letter in April to Dr. Michelle Taylor, director and health officer for the Shelby County Health Department. The organization said they obtained aerial images in March that showed that xAI has 35 gas turbines.

“xAI’s decision to install and operate dozens of polluting gas turbines without any permits or public oversight is a clear violation of the Clean Air Act,” SELC senior attorney Patrick Anderson said. “Over the last year, these turbines have pumped out pollution that threatens the health of Memphis families. This notice paves the way for a lawsuit that can hold xAI accountable for its unlawful refusal to get permits for its gas turbines.”

Officials sent a 60-day notice of intent to sue to xAI saying the gas turbines violate federal guidelines, stating the project is required to “obtain appropriate air permits before operating its polluting gas turbines.”

They say the company also hasn’t confirmed if they would be installing more turbines to power the facility.  The letter noted the environmental impact, saying the turbines emit formaldehyde and other chemicals linked to respiratory diseases.

“xAI’s South Memphis data center is located near predominantly Black communities that are already overburdened with industrial pollution from dozens of industrial facilities, including an oil refinery, a steel mill, and a TVA gas plant,” the SELC said.

NAACP president Derrick Johnson said xAI is taking advantage of communities and families in order to advance its corporate interests.

“We cannot afford to normalize this kind of environmental injustice — where billion-dollar companies set up polluting operations in Black neighborhoods without any permits and think they’ll get away with it because the people don’t have the power to fight back,” Johnson said.

Other local leaders have promised to push back against xAI by activating people power.

On Monday, Representative Justin J. Pearson and Memphis Community Against Pollution (MCAP) hosted an environmental justice “dinner and learn” at Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church. Organizers said this event was to keep the public updated on xAI’s while also empowering people to get involved in the environmental justice movement.

“Facts matter and it’s time for the fictions of elected leaders and the chamber to be made clear so we can coordinate our fight even better,” Pearson said prior to the event.

On his social media platforms, the representative recently called out the Greater Memphis Chamber for sending out “misinformation and disinformation” about xAI. He referenced informational sheets from the Chamber, along with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA); Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW); and more.

“We feel that it is important to share with you that xAI — and the supercomputer launched in Memphis in the spring of 2024 — has operated in full compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations and oversight,” a screenshot of the sheet read.

Pearson called this “propaganda,” said the project had not followed federal regulations, and referenced violations of the Clean Air Act.

“We have a responsibility as elected officials — as people — to tell the truth,” Pearson said. “We have to have a baseline of information by which we can be activated and advocates.”

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Draft Report Explores Need For Crime Lab Expansions

New and better facilities would make evidence processing more timely. (Photo: Tubagus Andri Maulana on Unsplash)

The Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) found that upgrading current Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) crime lab facilities could help in expediting evidence testing. They also recommend  potentially expanding crime lab services throughout West Tennessee.

Even though TBI has recruited 50 forensic scientists to address the surge in evidence testing, a draft report from TACIR shows that the lack of physical space has limited timely turnarounds. 

Delays in evidence testing in the Eliza Fletcher case caused public outcry, prompting TACIR to work on the report. Cleotha Abston, the man who plead guilty to killing Fletcher, had been investigated in a separate sexual assault, however the Senate Democratic Caucus said that the DNA evidence “sat untested due to backlogs.”

“This type of testing delay was not an isolated occurrence,” TACIR’s report said. 

The report went on to say that in 2022, TBI’s median turnaround time exceeded the national median in almost every category. They stated that turnaround times in sexual assault cases decreased from August 2022 to December 2024, they saw an increase in analyzing evidence in violence forensic biology cases.

State lawmakers attempted to pass legislation that would consider the construction of a new crime lab in Shelby County, yet while Senate Bill 2877 was passed in the Senate, its House companion ( House Bill 2961) was not.

Although the General Assembly did not enact this policy, TACIR said they find that expanding crime lab capabilities in East, Middle, and West Tennessee would be beneficial. They said this would address evidence backlogs, future demands, and “enhance efficiency through process improvements.”

TBI currently has three crime labs, located in Jackson, Knoxville, and Nashville. While the Tennessee Comptroller’s office recommended adding more staff to TBI’s team, they would also have to add more space to accommodate the employees.

The agency said that as of January 2025, they would only be able to add one forensic biology scientist to the Nashville lab, as Jackson and Knoxville were at capacity.

Shelby County’s growing volume of requests to the Jackson lab has only intensified this need, with officials saying a lab in Memphis “might be warranted.” However, this lab would “likely cost between $52 million and $66 million” excluding the cost of personnel, training, and more.

TACIR recommended that the TBI and City of Memphis finalize an agreement to hire a dedicated firearm analyst for Memphis cases. 

While expanding the crime labs would help in processing, TACIR noted that systemic delays need to be addressed as well. The report noted that while Memphis and Shelby county have historically reported higher crime rates and lower clearance rates, these findings are in part a result of the criminal justice system.

“A change in defense counsel was the most common reason observed when cases were delayed in both General Sessions and Criminal Court, while wait time for forensic evidence testing was the reason cited for delays in approximately 17 percent of observed Criminal Court cases,” the report said.

A potential partnership between Memphis , Shelby County and Jackson would help the evidence testing process, but this does not replace the potential need for a crime lab in the area. 

TACIR also noted that building a new facility involves several components such as thorough planning, “robust digital infrastructure and more.” They also noted that crime labs are expensive and “can take years to build.”

While there are several factors to weigh in building a crime lab, it could provide enhancements to the investigative process.

“If properly funded, the proposed lab’s consolidation of forensic services is anticipated to streamline evidence processing, reduce dependence on external resources, and potentially improve turnaround time for some units,” the report said.

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Environmental Advocates Ask EPA To Intervene Regarding Air Quality Standards

The petition links air pollution to asthma rates and other health issues. (Photo: Sahej Brar on Unsplash)

Memphis leaders have partnered with regional policy experts and advocates to continue fighting for cleaner air standards, just as the summer months bring heightened risks from the city’s smog.

Last week, the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) filed a petition to the Environmental Pollution Agency (EPA) asking the agency to redesignate Memphis as an area that does not meet ozone air quality standards. The filing was done on behalf of Memphis Community Against Pollution (MCAP), Young, Gifted, and Green, and the Sierra Club.

The filing noted that smog increases the likelihood of respiratory illnesses, emphasizing that Memphis has been designated a “national asthma capital” by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. 

Most recently, the American Lung Association gave Shelby County an “F” for ozone pollution.

Rep. Justin J. Pearson said Memphis declining air safety conditions aren’t a “coincidence” but rather “cause and effect.” Polluters like xAI and TVA are contributing to the smog problem, Pearson said, “and yet, local health officials have failed to act. Not only did they miss the EPA’s deadline to submit a pollution reduction plan, they have turned their backs on families struggling to breathe.”

The SELC is asking the EPA to exercise its authority under the Clean Air Act to determine that Memphis is in violation of the federal standard limiting the amount of ozone solution allowed where air might potentially be inhaled by the public.

“The last four years of air monitoring data show that the Memphis metro area is violating national smog standards,” SELC claimed in a statement. “Recent data shows that the problem is getting worse – not better.”

Caroline Cress, SELC senior attorney, said they have been tracking Memphis’ ozone issues for a while – specifically how local agencies have been addressing the issue. They’ve also been advocating for the Shelby County Health Department (SCHD) to take “swifter” action in addressing this issue.

“Ideally, the local government agency would have acted a long time ago to prevent the area from slipping into this violation of the federal standard to begin with,” Cress said. “They have been participating in voluntary programs that EPA facilitates.”

Cress said filing the petition was their way of intervening after noticing a lack of urgency from local governing authorities, with SELC reaching out to the EPA to pursue federal oversight of air quality.

Speaking of xAI, Cress added that “their facility emits a lot of pollutants that react with heat and sunlight to form ozone solutions. Which makes [xAI’s presence] particularly egregious: they came to town, set up shop, and started running these gas fire turbines without a permit – which was required – when the air quality in Memphis was already unhealthy.”

The petition also mentioned that the operation of xAI’s gas turbines have further complicated this issue, with the project expected to “operate certain voluntary air pollution controls.” Cress said Memphis’ air quality problems predate xAI, but their timing intensifies air threats.

Cress said the next steps are for the EPA to review and respond to their petition. In the meantime, SELC is hoping to persuade local government to take the air quality issue more seriously and take action to “reduce emissions.”

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Funding Advocates Propose Increase In Community Resources As Budgets Finalize

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As city and county officials prepare to finalize their budgets, community advocates are asking for additional support in underrepresented areas.

The Moral Budget Coalition has formulated its ideal proposal after talking to different community members and partners. These ideas are proposed in hopes of making the community “thriving, healthy, and whole.”

“Each year, the largest share of city and county budgets goes to policing and fire — critical but reactive services,” the Moral Budget Coalition said. “Meanwhile, services that alleviate poverty and address the root causes of harm are consistently left underfunded or overlooked.”

The organization has asked for increased funding in housing, transit, youth services, public safety, and more. Improvements include additional funding for the Memphis Area Transit Authority to “restore pre-2024 service levels” and expansion of youth mental health services.

Officials are requesting a budget of $69.5 million from the city, and $49.5 million from the county.

Credit: Moral Budget Coalition

“Where the city and county put their money shows what they care about,” Aerris Newton, director of government affairs for Stand Together Tennessee, said. “If our community is saying we need more mental health for youth, affordable housing, and we need to do something about violence in our city — where [the city and county] put our dollars shows if our officials are listening to us.”

The coalition explained that these are all complex issues, which require complex solutions. Many of the topics intersect and impact each other, both directly and indirectly, such as transportation, employment, and emotional wellness.

Cathy Emerson, co-executive director of the Braid Foundation, said that addressing mental health would require addressing the city’s transit as well as its stability, which she said can cause a strain on an individual’s well-being.

“All of those things are very much intertwined,” Emerson said. “When we get involved with youth what we find is we may be able to provide therapy, but you also need help finding a job and healthy after-school activities. It’s a wraparound.”

Members also emphasized that budgets are choices, and that local officials tend to fund initiatives on “the back-end of harm instead of the front-end.”

“That’s where some of the moral piece comes in,” Cathy Emerson, co-executive director of the Braid Foundation said. “We have to start making investments in things that help us on the front end to help us grow and thrive as a community. That’s the moral piece of the budget.”

K. Durrel Cowan, founder and director of Heal 901 added that crime and mental health have been a major talking point for government officials.  However Cowan noted that the city and county’s investments are not always representative of these topics as priorities.

“This is the time you put your money where your mouth is,” Cowan said. “We heard you talk for a year. By not investing in these spaces, it shows that it was just political rhetoric. These were words that were being spoken that were as empty as a bucket with a hole in it.”

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Trans Advocates Fight Federal Attacks on Housing Protections

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National threats to housing protections for transgender and gender nonconforming people would greatly impact those in Memphis, who are already disproportionately affected by homelessness.

Access to housing has long been a challenge for marginalized people living in Memphis. While homelessness is a nationwide issue, Memphis residents are often at a disadvantage due to a lack of resources.

The broadness of the issues tends to leave minority communities, specifically transgender and gender nonconforming individuals, to feel left out and forgotten.

“Memphis has one of the highest rates of homelessness in the South for trans people,” Kayla Gore, executive director of My Sistah’s House, said. “Many people have been denied access prior to Equal Access being in place.”

Gore referred to the Equal Access Rule imposed by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This rule protects individuals from housing discrimination on the basis of gender identity, sexual orientation, and marital status.

My Sistah’s House noted barriers for transgender people to receive housing in Memphis, which Gore said was created prior to the Equal Access Rule expanding to include this community in 2016. She said people had often complained about housing officials asking about their genitalia, safety of those already in shelters, and more.

While the organization has worked fervidly to make housing available for the community, Gore said their plans are shifting to adjust to the current political climate.

In February, HUD ceased enforcement of the rule. HUD secretary Scott Turner said this was an extension of President Donald Trump’s mission to “restore biological truth to the federal government.” 

During a June 5th webinar entitled “Defending the Equal Access Rule,” officials from the National Alliance to End Homelessness said this rhetoric is harmful to transgender and nonbinary individuals and is also working to eliminate data on them as well.

Officials said that this includes collecting federal data on gender expansive people and their experiences with homelessness and housing insecurity. The American Housing Survey did not collect data on sexual orientation and identity until 2023.

While consistent comprehensive data may not be available on these individuals, this does not discount their experiences, with many being subjected to discrimination, exclusion, and violence.

“There are places that really don’t want to house people who are gender diverse,” Gore said. “In Memphis, [the end of Equal Access] is going to put people in a really scary situation. Many trans individuals will be denied access to shelter or they’ll be forced into unsafe placement that doesn’t align with their gender identity.”

Gore said that federal and local governments are supposed to protect housing authorities from imposing discriminatory practices. She said states usually follow what national guidance dictates, but that isn’t the case in Tennessee.

“We’ve seen our counties support our initiatives, we’ve seen the city support our initiatives, but the state, not so much,” Gore said.

With the increased number of anti-trans legislation passed in the state, Gore said Tennessee is creating barriers for transgender people to live authentically. These obstacles are further intensified with housing protections being threatened.

“We’re talking about trans people not being able to access basic needs like shelter,” Gore said. “That’s going to create trauma not only for people who will be directly affected, but the people they’re connected to.”

Gore and her team are continuing to educate the LGBTQ community on the Equal Access Rule and impending challenges. She said they’re currently in a “waiting period” since there is no official decision yet.

“We need to really reinforce and expand protections that are crucial to trans people,” Gore said. “The fight for housing justice is a fight for survival.”

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NAACP Pushes Back on MLGW Response to xAI Letter

Photo: Memphis Light, Gas and Water

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is refuting Memphis Light, Gas and Water’s (MLGW) claims, renouncing responsibility for the xAI project.

“Regardless of the MLGW administration’s claims, MLGW’s own charter and policy manual appear to give the MLGW board a role in deciding the terms on which the utility will add or improve infrastructure,” the NAACP said in a statement.

MLGW president and CEO Doug McGowen sent a letter on June 2nd in response to one sent by the NAACP asking the utility service provider and the Shelby County Health Department (SCHD) to stop xAI operations.

McGowen acknowledged the group’s concern, yet called their claims “baseless and inflammatory,” saying they were “unnecessary and frankly beneath [the] organization.”

“The baseless claims against MLGW in your letter reflect a complete lack of understanding of MLGW processes and the laws implicated,” McGowen said in the letter. “Although you are writing us from Baltimore, Maryland, there has been such substantial reporting on this issue that even a modicum of due diligence would reflect that MLGW has been extremely communicative in sharing information with the public about its role, our processes, and the status of the provision of utilities for xAI.”

McGowen said they have no role in monitoring or regulating xAI’s gas turbines and refuted the NAACP’s claims that they “allow customers to operate without constraints or with a lackadaisical approach.”

“MLGW does not control the use of natural gas turbines,” McGowen said. “That responsibility lies with other agencies such as the Shelby County Health Department, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, and the Environmental Protection Agency.”

The NAACP cited MLGW’s charter and policy manual which they said gives the board the authority in deciding how MLGW “will add or improve infrastructure.” Section 683 allows commissioners to govern the distribution of the utilities “as they deem proper in the operation of said light, gas, and water division.”

MLGW’s Service Policy 1.6 also states that the board has the right to “refuse to make or to postpone making any extensions, additions, or improvements to the electric, gas, or water system.” It also said that the board of commissioners make the final decision in these cases.

McGowen’s letter said the company has been transparent about their role in xAI’s operations and they’ve made “great efforts to educate the public.” They referenced a public conversation they co-facilitated with the Memphis City Council in August 2024 and a webpage that defines their role with xAI.

Despite this, the NAACP still criticized MLGW’s role in providing public updates.

“We’re not aware of the board deliberating publicly to make this important decision to add or improve infrastructure,” the NAACP said in a statement.